Can you look at yourself in the mirror every day with a clean conscience? (Min An/Pexels.com)

Spiritual intimacy can never be increased where dishonesty and deception exist. Many individuals have what I call an "image relationship" with themselves. They work at crafting their image so much that they themselves buy it hook, line and sinker.

Such image crafters usually focus on the wonderful parts of themselves, such as their gifts or shining qualities. Their self-styled image may be charismatic, outwardly displaying wonderful virtues such as caring, sincerity, spirituality and intelligence. They often appear nearly perfect.

When I was a young Christian in Bible college, I couldn't even walk out of the dorm room unless everything matched. I was quite an image to behold—a young, clean-cut, well-dressed Bible school student and choir member. Nevertheless, I only had an image relationship with myself.

I was completely unaware of my real heart condition or even how I truly felt. I appeared righteous and was always ready to convince anyone that I was OK. The only problem was that I wasn't real. I was well schooled in all the religious rhetoric; I could spout off dozens of memorized Bible verses to fit the moment, but I couldn't have a relationship to save my life.

What does this have to do with spiritual intimacy? Everything, if you're a Christian desiring intimacy. In truth, I was a hurting human being who used religion to protect my heart, and it took God years to tear down that self-image so I could begin to experience genuine intimacy.

Self-honesty is very important. Not one of us human beings is perfect or even close to it. If you take any one of us away from the normal comforts of daily life and place us in an unusually stressful situation, such as an all-day layover in an airport or being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, less than wonderful things will often come out of our hearts.

It's absolutely wonderful to be human, isn't it? We are imperfect by our very design. If we could be perfect, then we wouldn't need a Savior, would we? Growing beyond false religious images and discovering who you really are is just the beginning of spiritual intimacy.

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Now if you are thinking that this really doesn't apply to you, try this exercise to find out. Think of your three greatest flaws. Now take a minute and come up with seven more. I find that in doing this, many of us can come up with one or two—but 10? Who even imagines that he could have ten faults? Take a moment at this point and write down 10 of your worst faults and see how long it takes.

The longer it takes for you to come up with 10 faults, the more important self-honesty is going to be for you on your journey toward spiritual intimacy. By the way, when you're writing down these faults, don't cheat and if you are married ask your spouse to help.

Honesty about how you feel, honesty about your perceptions and honesty with who you are, are all central to spiritual intimacy. As you go through this exercise, you will begin to discover more and more about the real you than you may have thought possible.

The great news is this: You won't be doing this alone. God will be with both you, walking together with you throughout this journey.

Recently at a lunch meeting, a woman asked me how a man could be taught to see the real beauty of a woman when he first meets her. I responded that it was not possible. How can you appreciate the complex caverns of a woman's soul at a moment's glance? It takes a journey of decades for a man to behold the beauty of a woman. The fragrance of a woman's many passions for life, love and relationship; her waves of emotion and her valleys of woundedness and fear could never be understood during a superficial encounter.

Spiritual intimacy is an exciting journey with a wonderful destination. The adventure of this intimacy's discovery makes the traveling so much fun for you. Honesty is one signpost on the way to spiritual intimacy. You must be honest with yourself and with God.

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